Published: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 6:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 6:04 p.m.

Sea turtles laid more than 1,000 nests along the North Carolina coastline from May through October, marking the third busiest nesting season in state history, officials said this week.

Facts

Nests by the numbers

Topsail Island2009: 592010: 1042011: 1102012: 85

Wrightsville Beach2009: 12010: 12011: 32012: 3

Holden Beach2009: 232010: 292011: 302012: 48

North Carolina2009: N/A2010: 8832011: 9672012: 1,103

Source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

North Carolina beaches serve as nesting ground for loggerheads, Kemp's Ridley and green sea turtles, though loggerheads account for about 95 percent of all nests, according to Matthew Godfrey, biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

This year, 1,103 nests were laid along the coast, a 14-percent increase over last year's total of 967. It's a sizable uptick, but not an unprecedented one, Godfrey said.

"Cyclically, the number of nests goes up and down from year to year," he said. "This year was higher than normal, and it was the third highest on record, but it wasn't our best year ever."

Along the shoreline in the Cape Fear region, results varied from beach to beach. For example, volunteers with the Topsail Turtle Project found 85 nests on their 26-mile stretch of sand; the most of any group in Pender, Brunswick or New Hanover counties. By contrast, officials with the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project cared for just three nests.

But those numbers are fairly typical. Topsail traditionally plays host to dozens of nests, while the more heavily trafficked Wrightsville Beach almost always has far fewer. Last year, island volunteers found 110 nests; in 2010, it was 104, while Wrightsville Beach held three nests in 2011 and only one in 2010.

The difference, experts said, is due to the numerous factors that affect a turtle's likelihood of nesting in a particular place, including the level of human activity and the lighting.

"Other areas are just more populated," said Jean Beasley, founder and director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, which oversees the Topsail Island volunteer group. "Historically, Topsail Island has not been as populated, which means less human activity on the beaches. What we then try to do is neutralize the effect of the human impact by educating the public about how sea turtles and people can both enjoy the beaches and have mutual respect."

Though nest numbers statewide have been increasing steadily since 2008, sea turtles remain endangered. But the specifics of the designation vary by species.

One of the goals of regulators to show that loggerheads, for example, are securely on the road to recovery is to record 2,000 North Carolina nests in a single season.

According to state data, a total of 2,070 nests were discovered on Tar Heel State beaches during the past two seasons.

"If you assume the population was growing at a steady rate from where we are now, that would give you 2,000 nests. That's where the number comes from," Godfrey said. "But I don't think we've ever had 2,000 nests in a single season."

And it's difficult to speculate when nest numbers could reach that peak, as the output is impossible to predict from year to year, Beasley said.

"Sea turtles typically nest either every two or every three years. It's not a set template. They are ladies, they choose when they want to nest," she said. "We never have a clue. It's entirely up to the turtle."

<p>Sea turtles laid more than 1,000 nests along the North Carolina coastline from May through October, marking the third busiest nesting season in state history, officials said this week.</p><p>North Carolina beaches serve as nesting ground for loggerheads, Kemp's Ridley and green sea turtles, though loggerheads account for about 95 percent of all nests, according to Matthew Godfrey, biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.</p><p>This year, 1,103 nests were laid along the coast, a 14-percent increase over last year's total of 967. It's a sizable uptick, but not an unprecedented one, Godfrey said.</p><p>"Cyclically, the number of nests goes up and down from year to year," he said. "This year was higher than normal, and it was the third highest on record, but it wasn't our best year ever."</p><p>Along the shoreline in the Cape Fear region, results varied from beach to beach. For example, volunteers with the Topsail Turtle Project found 85 nests on their 26-mile stretch of sand; the most of any group in Pender, Brunswick or New Hanover counties. By contrast, officials with the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project cared for just three nests.</p><p>But those numbers are fairly typical. Topsail traditionally plays host to dozens of nests, while the more heavily trafficked Wrightsville Beach almost always has far fewer. Last year, island volunteers found 110 nests; in 2010, it was 104, while Wrightsville Beach held three nests in 2011 and only one in 2010.</p><p>The difference, experts said, is due to the numerous factors that affect a turtle's likelihood of nesting in a particular place, including the level of human activity and the lighting.</p><p>"Other areas are just more populated," said Jean Beasley, founder and director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, which oversees the Topsail Island volunteer group. "Historically, Topsail Island has not been as populated, which means less human activity on the beaches. What we then try to do is neutralize the effect of the human impact by educating the public about how sea turtles and people can both enjoy the beaches and have mutual respect."</p><p>Though nest numbers statewide have been increasing steadily since 2008, sea turtles remain endangered. But the specifics of the designation vary by species.</p><p>One of the goals of regulators to show that loggerheads, for example, are securely on the road to recovery is to record 2,000 North Carolina nests in a single season.</p><p>According to state data, a total of 2,070 nests were discovered on Tar Heel State beaches during the past two seasons.</p><p>"If you assume the population was growing at a steady rate from where we are now, that would give you 2,000 nests. That's where the number comes from," Godfrey said. "But I don't think we've ever had 2,000 nests in a single season."</p><p>And it's difficult to speculate when nest numbers could reach that peak, as the output is impossible to predict from year to year, Beasley said.</p><p>"Sea turtles typically nest either every two or every three years. It's not a set template. They are ladies, they choose when they want to nest," she said. "We never have a clue. It's entirely up to the turtle."</p><p>Kate Elizabeth Queram: 343-2217</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @kate_goes_bleu</p>